I wouldn't count out Fells. Or Hoomanaumanui. Or Woodhead. Or Lloyd. Or Branch. Or Vereen. Or Bolden. You get my drift? There are plenty of NEXT MAN UP candidates, and as pointed out (astutely, I feel) by the broadcast team, the Patriots played EVERYONE this year, often. We complain when player X doesn't get enough touches/targets, but now we have a roster with all players who have been in and know what's up. THAT IS GREAT COACHING.

I wouldn't count out Fells. Or Hoomanaumanui. Or Woodhead. Or Lloyd. Or Branch. Or Vereen. Or Bolden. You get my drift? There are plenty of NEXT MAN UP candidates, and as pointed out (astutely, I feel) by the broadcast team, the Patriots played EVERYONE this year, often. We complain when player X doesn't get enough touches/targets, but now we have a roster with all players who have been in and know what's up. THAT IS GREAT COACHING.

It will probably take all of them. You can't replace Gronk with one player.

Gronk would be missed most against a superbowl opponent like the 49ers, because of his great run blocking and physicaliy. Gronk wouldn't be dropping passes from intimidation against them like Hern did a few weeks back! But I love how Vareen was used today and hope they use him more. Would love to see Vareen used on the kickoff returns too.

+1

vereen is special. I am not sure why it took use to use him like we did today, and now we all know what he is capable of. He is the best receiving bacicon this team, has the speed and hands of a WR. Mcd will use him to exploit an aging, slow ravens lb corps. Bank on it. What we miss with Gronk, we should be able to get some blocking help from josh and fells...both can catch, but no one is Gronk..he will be missed.

Don't know many positves though except he is establishing a history of being injury prone and that might mean they go for resigning Welker.

For next weeks game the Ravens can now game plan to the remaining personell and not have to account for Gronk which gives them some advantage unless Ho-man or Fells get incorporated more in the offense.

Agree with this. You know what's really crazy? The Patriots have the best starting TE (Gronk), the best second-string TE (Hernandez), and arguably the best third-string TE (Hooman) in the league. How about that?

Agree with this. You know what's really crazy? The Patriots have the best starting TE (Gronk), the best second-string TE (Hernandez), and arguably the best third-string TE (Hooman) in the league. How about that?

Its cool. It is by design.

And if this was the first time Gronk got injured like last year it would be very bad but since he has been out for awhile anyway the backups are keyed in very well.

Let's be honest, there are no "positives" about losing a guy like Gronk. However, the damage of the injury is mitigated by the two reasons that DaPats listed.

We've played 6 games without him, and Brady and Co. have adapted to life without Gronk over that stretch. The emergence of Vereen as a playmaker tonight also helps the offense.

Last year, losing Gronk was like being off caught guard by a big storm, and right before the Super Bowl too. This year, we're much better equipped to weather this storm.

It goes beyond that. One has to wonder why Gronk was playing to begin with? He still had that long, thick cast on his arm, and was obviously laboring in pain...before falling on the arm, and breaking it again. BB said that he was cleared by the doctors to play. Okay...then my next questions are, who the hell are these doctors? Do they have degrees? Are they blind? And...the million dollar question...is that arm going to ever heal properly, now that it's been broken twice...in a two month period?

Very angry and disappointed about this whole Gronk scenario. This is almost as bad as Mike Shanahan's decision to let RG III continue playing on an obviously damaged knee. IDIOTIC!!!!!!!

Let's be honest, there are no "positives" about losing a guy like Gronk. However, the damage of the injury is mitigated by the two reasons that DaPats listed.

We've played 6 games without him, and Brady and Co. have adapted to life without Gronk over that stretch. The emergence of Vereen as a playmaker tonight also helps the offense.

Last year, losing Gronk was like being off caught guard by a big storm, and right before the Super Bowl too. This year, we're much better equipped to weather this storm.

It goes beyond that. One has to wonder why Gronk was playing to begin with? He still had that thick cast on his arm, and was obviously laboring in pain, before falling on the arm, and breaking it again. BB said that he was cleared by the doctors to play. Okay...then my next questions are, who the hell are these doctors? Do they have degrees? Are they blind? And...the million dollar question...is that arm going to ever heal properly, now that it's been broken twice...in a two month period?

Very angry and disappointed about this whole Gronk scenario. This is almost as bad as Mike Shanahan's decision to let RG III continue playing on an obviously damaged knee. IDIOTIC!!!!!!!